Best PC Monitors Under $200 in 2019

As display technology matures, we find higher specifications and features into lower cost monitors. That means we're now treated to a great selection of high-quality monitors at lower prices. We've looked through everything you can get right now and found the Viewsonic VX2457 to be the one to beat.

Our pick

The VX2457-MHD ($139) targets gamers but everyone should give it a look. It's a 24-inch 1080p panel with a two millisecond response time, 75Hz refresh rate, and support for AMD FreeSync. If your PC runs an AMD graphics card, that means super smooth tear-free gaming.

Who should buy this monitor

This monitor is aimed at gamers with its low input lag, low response time, 75Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync support. But it's still a quality option for anyone looking for an affordable display.

Is it a good time to buy this monitor?

Absolutely. It's currently selling for $139 which is $30 below its retail price, and at that price, it's an even stronger value. It's been out over a year now, but so far Viewsonic hasn't replaced it with anything better and with the current price cuts it's an even better purchase.

Reasons to buy

AMD FreeSync.

75Hz refresh rate.

Low input lag and response time.

Superb price.

Reasons not to buy

TN panels aren't great for color accuracy.

Not the best looking monitor.

Good monitors don't have to be expensive

There was a time when buying a lower priced PC monitor would leave you with a horrid design, mediocre display and less than friendly port selection. Thankfully, as the tech has matured in recent times, features once reserved for the elite have made their way to the most affordable products.

Features like this used to be reserved for the elite of PC monitors.

That means you can now have adaptive sync in the form of AMD FreeSync, perfect for gamers who use a Radeon GPU. It also means a 75Hz refresh rate, low input lag and a fast response time. All of these features are most important to gamers, but at this price, it's hard not to be impressed.

Ultimately the features gamers care about will also give regular PC users a better experience. 24-inches at 1080p leaves a great looking image and while colors aren't going to be as accurate as on some more expensive monitors, you're not left wanting for an all-round quality experience.

Alternatives to the ViewSonic VX2457

While the VX2457 is the best all-around pick under $200, there are plenty of other great monitors to choose from that fulfill more specific criteria. Whether you're a dedicated gamer, looking for a budget ultrawide or are on a really strict budget, these monitors from BenQ, LG and AOC will fit the bill.

Best budget

If you only have around $100 for a new monitor, you can't go wrong with this panel.

The AOC I2267FW offers a five-millisecond response time, 1080p resolution, and IPS display technology. Throw in a bezel of just 2 mm, VGA and DVI ports and a solid price, and you have quite the PC monitor.

This monitor proves you can still get a lot even when on a really tight budget. An IPS panel means better color accuracy, and while the lack of HDMI may be off-putting to some, it's hard to deny the bang for your buck here.

Used by esports professionals the world over, the BenQ RL2455 is a top choice for PC gamers on a budget or folks playing on consoles. It's got great image quality, super fast response time, and low input lag. In other words, everything you need for a great gaming experience.

Best ultrawide

There is a lot of screen for work and play, joined by a solid price and display technologies.

This UM58 by LG is a 25-inch ultrawide IPS display with a massive resolution of 2560 x 1080. This isn't huge when compared to 4K and above, but for this particular budget segment, it's an impressive amount of space to work with.

Even at this price point, you can get an ultrawide monitor, and LG's UM58 will give you 25-inches of 21:9 computing. If sheer space on a budget is what you're looking for, this is it.

Bottom line

The days of sub-par monitors at the more budget end of the market are long gone. As each of the products mentioned here proves, you can spend comfortably under $200 and still get a great monitor.

The Viewsonic VX2457 is the best of the bunch though, ticking virtually every box whether you're a gamer, a professional or a more casual PC user.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Richard Devine is a Reviews Editor at Windows Central. You'll usually find him deep in hardware, gaming, both or drinking root beer for which he openly has a mild addiction.

Rich Edmonds is a staff reviewer at Windows Central, which means he tests out more software and hardware than he cares to remember. Joining Mobile Nations in 2010, you can usually find him inside a PC case tinkering around when not at a screen fighting with Grammarly to use British words. Hit him up on Twitter: @RichEdmonds.

Daniel Rubino is executive editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft since 2009 back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.